11 replies to this topic

[Chad Vander Veen]

Had my first experience with sleep paralysis last night. I was lying in my bed and was unsure if I was having a dream or if I was awake. If it was a dream the setting was exactly like my bedroom. I couldn't move my body but my eyes were open and I could feel a presence - and invisible being near me. The being started to choke me, I could feel its hands around my neck, squeezing. I tried to call out to my wife to help me but I couldn't manage anything more than a whisper. I grew increasingly panicked, trying to scream for help but being unable to. Somehow, eventually, I "broke though" the paralysis and shot up in bed, swinging my arms wildly at my phantom attacker - realizing shortly afterward that none of it was real. But holy shiat did it ever seem real. If this is what happens to people who claim they were abducted by aliens, I can understand why if it were an even more intense experience than I had they believe it to have really happened. That was terrifying.

[4thgenFolsomite]

you know, I had this happen about four or five times during an especially stressful time in my early 20s. It's very realistic. Are you stressed out?

[tsukiji]

Yes!! I have experienced this. Scares the crap out of me each time, thanks for reminding me.

I'm not normally scared of ghosts, etc. But this really freaks me out. Definitely feel a presences.

After several occurrences, I'd realize during the episode that it's not real and I need to wake up. (at least I hope it's not real and it's just some dream-like state). But it's scary as schill while it's happening.

[Chad Vander Veen]

you know, I had this happen about four or five times during an especially stressful time in my early 20s. It's very realistic. Are you stressed out?

I guess maybe. New job and an 8 mos. old who isn't sleeping well.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I've never had this and it truly does sound scary. I'm sorry it happened to you. I did a little reading on and WebMD and the description of events sounds exactly like what you experienced.

http://www.webmd.com...sleep-paralysis

"Sleep paralysis is a feeling of being conscious but unable to move. It occurs when a person passes between stages of wakefulness and sleep. During these transitions, you may be unable to move or speak for a few seconds up to a few minutes. Some people may also feel pressure or a sense of choking. Sleep paralysis may accompany other sleep disorders such as narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is an overpowering need to sleep caused by a problem with the brain's ability to regulate sleep."

May that be the one and only time you have to experience this.

[4thgenFolsomite]

I guess maybe. New job and an 8 mos. old who isn't sleeping well.

well, that would do it!! don't worry about it. its normal. it happens. you'll be fine. scary as can be when you're in it though, eh? In mine, I would wake up in the house I was living in, dark, just like it would be at night if I woke up, and I would feel something terrifying was in the house with me. So I would force myself to try to get out of bed and walk to the phone in the kitchen (yes, this was a long time ago ). Every step would be torture. And then the phone wouldn't work. None of the lights would go on. spooky!!! Then I'd wake up with a start and go, "wow, was that a dream?"

all better now. none the worse for wear. its amazing how our bodies handle stress, isn't it?

[nomad]

Had my first experience with sleep paralysis last night. I was lying in my bed and was unsure if I was having a dream or if I was awake. If it was a dream the setting was exactly like my bedroom. I couldn't move my body but my eyes were open and I could feel a presence - and invisible being near me. The being started to choke me, I could feel its hands around my neck, squeezing. I tried to call out to my wife to help me but I couldn't manage anything more than a whisper. I grew increasingly panicked, trying to scream for help but being unable to. Somehow, eventually, I "broke though" the paralysis and shot up in bed, swinging my arms wildly at my phantom attacker - realizing shortly afterward that none of it was real. But holy shiat did it ever seem real. If this is what happens to people who claim they were abducted by aliens, I can understand why if it were an even more intense experience than I had they believe it to have really happened. That was terrifying.

Never had sleep paralysis but I was abducted by aliens and the experience is indeed similar, but add the probing in certain places for more fun.

[asbestoshills]

Yes, this is a scary event and I've had it since childhood. It's the worst feeling in the world b/c u can't breathe well and you can't move, not a good combo. Get tested for sleep apnea. Sometimes this is a symptom of a lack of oxygen and it messes up the regulation of sleep cycles. Good luck!

[folsom500]

I remember the first time I had it. I was camping at Yosemite -maybe 8 or 9 and was frozen with my eyes open and was scared to death as what I thought was a bear was coming into our tent... It must have lasted 10 minutes or more.

I have since had this situation occasionally sometimes with the fear and other times just laying in the bed with my eyes open and I cannot move - almost always this happens when I am asleep on my back which is not how I normally sleep due to my nasal blockage.

[MrsTuffPaws]

My husband gets it sometimes, and it seems to terrify him. When I hear him whimpering like a dog, I know in his mind he's trying to scream out, so I gently wake him up.

[Dartmore]

Had my first experience with sleep paralysis last night. I was lying in my bed and was unsure if I was having a dream or if I was awake. That was terrifying.

I had that happen probably eight nights while falling asleep. The real drag was it would happen two or three times until I actually got up and walked around, then went back to bed. That was in my late 20s.

My experience is that it is super scary (I was convinced someone was in the room with me, but I could not move)
but it caused no harm. After these set of incidents (happened over about two months), it never happened again. I did get somewhat used to it, knowing that nothing bad was going to happen except me being frustrated because I couldn't sleep.

Best of luck!

[emilyg59541]

I had the same thing a few years ago. The presence pushed my body into my mattress then blew into my ear and then let me go. It was very weird but I didn't feel threatened by the presence.